N U C L E I C A C I D S I X T Y

1. PRION: CJD is caused by this infectious protein particle which crosses the blood-brain barrier, deposited in the brain tissue and causes degeneration of the brain tissue 2. NUCLEIC ACID: Enables the infectious protein particle (which causes CJD) to withstand conventional means of sterilization 3. SIXTY: Typically, onset of symptoms occurs at this age 4. MENTAL DETERIORATION: This occurs as the disease progresses 5. SPORADIC: The most common category of CJD (at least 85% of cases), the disease appears even though the person has no known risk factors for the disease 6. HEREDITARY: A category of CJD (5-10% of cases in the US), the person has a family history of the disease and/or tests positive for a genetic mutation associated with CJD. 7. ACQUIRED: A category of CJD (fewer than 1% of cases), the disease is transmitted by exposure to brain or nervous system tissue, usually through certain medical procedures. 8. TRANSMISSIBLE SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHIES: This is the group of degenerative, infectious neurologic disorders where CJD belongs 9. PANENCEPHALOPATHIC FORM: A variant form of CJD which occurs primarily in Japan, has a relatively long course, with symptoms often progressing for several years 10. VARIANT-CJD: A variant form of CJD which affects younger individuals, begins primarily with psychiatric symptoms and has a longer than usual duration from onset of symptoms to death. 11. TREATABLE FORMS OF DEMENTIA: Includes encephalitis and chronic meningitis, needed to be ruled out before CJD is diagnosed 12. COMPUTERIZED TOMOGRAPHY: This can help rule out the possibility that the symptoms result from other problems such as stroke or brain tumor

13-14. BRAIN BIOPSY and AUTOPSY: These are the only ways to confirm the diagnosis of CJD 15-17. AGE, GENETICS, EXPOSURE TO CONTAMINATED TISSUE: The three risk factors for CJD 18, 19, 20: INFECTION, HEART FAILURE, RESPIRATORY FAILURE: Three physical complications of CJD

In CJD, the symptoms are progressive, there is no definitive treatment, and the outcome is fatal